June 12 can’t be wished away – Senator Obi

In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, explains why his office chose to hold an all political parties’ summit on June 12

Why is your office convening an inter-party summit?

We expect Nigerian political parties and political stakeholders to evolve and develop sustainable frameworks and mechanisms for constant interaction to strengthen and deepen the nation’s democratic process in the areas of issue-based campaigns, observance of positive political behaviour and helping to ensure that our elections are violence-free, fair, transparent and credible. The theme of the Summit which is “Inter-party collaboration, national stability and democratic consolidation,” is very instructive.

The summit will provide the opportunity for the members of the political class to reaffirm their commitment to the maintenance of national security and social stability, particularly given the savage war being waged against the nation by terrorists and extremist insurgencies. You can, therefore, see that the summit is coming at a crucial time in the life of the nation, the time of our war against the enemies of Nigerian democracy and the Nigerian state, and our preparation for the all-important 2015 general elections. If you add the fact that the summit is being convened at the time the National Conference is taking place there is no doubt that its recommendations may be of help to the work of the conference delegates in certain respects.

Is there any reason why you chose June 12?

The summit could have been convened on any other day and it will still be a great historic moment in the progression of Nigerian democracy, but you will agree with me that June 12 adds a special tonic, a welcome spice to the whole effort. June 12 cannot be wished away in the nation’s democratic calendar by any right thinking Nigerian. President Jonathan recognises the great democratic symbolism of that date in several ways and at several times. He even went further to name a major federal university after the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election. The feeling of the conveners is that June 12 offers the nation’s political class not just the moment to reflect on our democratic journey so far but the opportunity to close ranks and confront the challenges facing the state as one united entity. I will even go as far as saying that for the numerous obstacles facing the nation to be speedily overcome, the political hearts of Nigeria’s political leaders must beat as one.

The Nigerian political class appears largely divided along party lines. Do you think they can find a common ground?

The so-called divide amongst the political parties is blown out of proportion. Nigerian politicians believe in a united country, in peaceful resolution of political disputes and in the progress of the nation and the prosperity of her people. I do not know of any party or any politician that does not subscribe to this belief. Political parties and politicians can and do quarrel over programmes and policies, and over the acquisition of power but as patriots, they are united in their love for the nation and the need to make our democracy work for the greater good of our people. I do not want to hold brief for the invited stakeholders or prejudge what the outcome of the summit would be. However, I know that, on the basis of the intense consultations that preceded the convening of the summit, that Nigerian political leaders are enthusiastic about this gathering and do not wish it to become a one-off affair; they are committed to ensuring that its decisions and resolutions are implemented over time.

Giving Nigeria’s winner-takes-all kind of politics, how optimistic are you that political parties will embrace a fresh culture different from what they have been used to over the years?

I sincerely believe that the notion of winner-takes-all is exaggerated in the Nigerian political context. Winners and losers do collaborate in Nigeria to move the country forward at all levels of government. This has been the feature of Nigerian politics since 1999. Nevertheless, I also believe that the summit will provide the platform and the space for Nigerian political leaders to discuss this matter in full and develop a framework that will make political players, both the winners and the losers, have a sense of belonging in the success of the Nigerian development project.